State Muskellunge Season Opens On May 30

Anglers seeking the ultimate trophy fish don’t have to wait much longer. The fishing season for muskellunge, New York’s largest freshwater sportfish, opens on May 30 across much of the state. In New York’s Great Lakes waters (Lake Erie, Upper Niagara River, Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River) the season opens on June 20.

New Black Bass Report Available

A recent study by DEC found that smallmouth bass populations in certain rivers and streams managed with a 10 inch minimum size limit had similar size structures and growth rates to populations in lakes and rivers managed under the statewide minimum size of 12 inches. These results indicate that there is no longer a need for the 10 inch size limit. Read the full report on DEC's website.

Trout stocking season always presents its own set of challenges, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, hatchery staff were faced with a whole new way of getting fish out of hatchery raceways and stocked into the waters they were planned for.
Some new factors to contend with included:

Maintaining a safe distance between staff while loading the trucks,

Disinfecting the cabs of the trucks so multiple drivers could use them safely;

Keeping a safe distance from curious onlookers watching the fish being stocked

Locating restrooms while traveling long distances across the state that were still open because many were closed due to the pandemic.

DEC’s dedicated, essential hatchery staff worked long days and some weekends to provide anglers with fishing opportunities. Thanks to their commitment, spring fish stocking was completed approximately one month ahead of schedule. The stockings were completed without volunteer help this year due to the pandemic.